The Development of a theoretical Basis of Location Mobile Services for low mobility individuals.
ISBN 978-85-88783-11-9
Authors
1Cardoso, R.S.C.P.; 2Menezes, P.M.L.
1UFRJ Email: rcardoso.geo@gmail.com
2UFRJ Email: pmenezes@acd.ufrj.br
Abstract
With the evolution and growth of mobile phones, many applications based on collaborative maps are emerging to update their information and provide a product that is suitable to its purpose. Therewith is created an interface where the users interact with the maps in a virtual environment, and then they can developed a perception from the reality that guides them in their displacement. This became relevant for individuals with some mobility difficulty (for example: disabled, blind) because through these maps, they can visualize points that indicate places where some architectural construction (like wheelchair ramps and elevators) can improve their displacement, avoiding embarrassment that normally occurs when a person does not know where the accessibility points are (or if they exist). The purpose of this research is develop a theoretical basis, adequate, that guides the production of location mobile services applications for the individuals that have low mobility, study how the interaction happen between the maps and users, as well how the spatial cognition notion is developed. Therefore it results in the achievement of concepts for applications in studies about displacement for low mobility, helping in their organization. For this, was made a literature review of papers about accessibility and about web maps; an accessibility blogs reading and some interviews that shows the users perception about the question. And finally, was made a research of several kinds of accessibility maps, that were analyzed according their characteristics. As users we considered the individuals with low mobility, for whom the information about the functionality of a space are extremely relevant because it indicates the points where is accessible to them, and also enable this users to use different spaces according their specific needs. The first results indicate how the interaction happened in this platform: the individuals can both visualize or insert the informations, acting as users and collaborators; the object of the map is the information of spaces where is accessible to them; and the purpose of the maps are promote the universal design, an concept about construct places where can be use for a large number of people, without any architectural barrier, promoting a social inclusion in this places. However, this same concept of universal design, need to be used in the application construction, because it provide access for any people to the informations on the map. This can be done with an adequate symbology that can be easily identified for individuals that have low vision. Other possibility is use different functionalities in the application, for example use a voice reader that convert spatial information in a reading text about the location of the point, enabling the displacement for blind. The analysis of the results shows how important is to consider the vision of the individuals with low mobility during the construction of those maps, because this improve the purpose of the map, creating an efficient spatial guide to them. Futhermore, it is also important to create an atmosphere in these maps where the reality can be easily understood through them, using different functionalities that improves their comprehension.
Keywords
Accessibility maps; Web Maps; Mobile application